The Big Project’s children’s choir returns for its third year at the Fringe, and if you’ve got children who love nothing more than to sing-a-long to chart toppers this is the show for them. Katy Perry, Jessie J and the Scottish national anthem all feature in an hour of musical fun led by pianist Kim Edgar.
What makes The Big Sing-a-long so enjoyable is that it plays on children’s love of joining in; Kim Edgar was a delight, managing to keep the fifty plus audience engaged and excited throughout. Yes, the four verse JLS, Mariah Carey and McFly mash up is enough to offend the ears of the most tolerant music lover, but it’s here that these bouncy pop anthems are at home, parents and grandparents alike belted out the twee lyrics with as much enthusiasm as their offspring. Given their age, the children’s choir made for an impressive ensemble, and although there were no individual voices worthy distinction, that’s not what this show is really about.
It would be too easy to sneer at The Big Sing-a-long; many might question whether it is better suited to a school hall than the festival fringe. They’d have a point, certainly the event had a distinctive community vibe; on more than one occasion teachers from a local primary school joined the choir. That said, the Big Project is an excellent cause, and if you don’t suffer from acute self-consciousness, this is an hour of solid fun.
